Deep Space Guardian: Season II-Episode 24

[Founder]

-Two Days Later-

Captain's Log. Stardate 57156.36

Two days have passed since the events with the mirror universe invaders. I'm pleased to say that the injured crew have recovered and are already back on duty. Unfortunetly, only one of the counterparts were dealt with. I'm glad Archer is gone, but I am worried about the last individual, Merik's counterpart. He is unaccounted for. I thought maybe he fled to the mirror universe. I assumed that all of them had one of the devices to cross over. That theory was somewhat debunked when the EMH searched MU Jones' body. He had no multi-dimensional transporter device. Which could mean, Merik didn't either. Once Blake had the lock out deactivated, we discovered that a shuttle was stolen from the bay. I'm pretty sure that it was Merik and he is somehere out there now. This concerns me greatly. Not that my mind can think very much. I have three things on my mind that are very important, to me at least. Sophia, Demetrius, and Ziona. MU Sophia. The RU Sophia has been placed in medical wing for special needs patients. She was put into a coma due to Archer shooting her in the face with some kind of strange phaser. The doctor's remain optomistic, but I just don't know. I hope that she recovers. MU Sophia and Demetrius live in Guardian City now. I picked out a place for them myself. She wants me to be part of the baby's life, but I can't be. Not as a father at least. I would be a, ironically, guardian. A teacher. A moral guide, but never a father. It isn't my place. Not to mention, I never wanted a family forced on me. I asked Sophia if the child ever asks what happened to his father, to simply respond with "Hes dead." I feel that is enough. For now at least. As for my other troubles, I've gone back to having strained relations with a member of my crew, Ziona Andreas. I don't know where I stand with her. That woman is an enigma. I'll never truly understand her I suppose. She remained on the station to serve much to my happiness. Besides having a...unique relationship with her, she was a hell of a tactical officer. Speaking of officers, I've grown weary of Major Kyle Katran. I'll never forget MU Jones look when he saw Kyle. It was really strange and I wonder what the connection was. I read through more of Kyle's file and discovered he was trained by a Nautolian monk years ago. He sought enlightenment and way to "expand". I don't like that he has connections with Nautolians and I truly wonder where his loyalties lay. How could Starfleet send a man they knew had connections to the Nautolians here of all places? I don't understand it. I don't think I will anytime soon anyways...

End log.

-DSG, Ian's Quarters-

Ian slept peacefully, his mind not focused on anything. Just the plain, simple darkness that comes with sleep. His stomach rose up and down, in a rythmatic pattern. Suddenly, his slumber was disturbed when his combage chirped. He groaned and heard Jones' voice over it.

"Jones to Xavier." He said.

Ian reached over to the side of the table, where it sat. He tapped it and rubbed his eyes.

"Xavier here." He said in a groggy tone.

Jones quietly responded.

"Were you asleep sir?" He asked.

Ian sat up and stretched out his arms, while yawning.

"No Mr. Jones," He said, "I'm always awake this late...playing Dabo. Its when I have my winning streak."

Jones responded, sounded unsure.

"Well," He said, "Wouldn't your mind be sharper-"

Ian grew annoyed and quickly responded.

"I assumed you contacted me for something other than idle chat?" He said.

Jones cleared his throat and spoke formally.

"Admiral Smith has hailed the station on a priority one channel and wishes to speak with you immediatly." He said.

Ian groaned inwardly.

"Damn." He said, not pleased with the news of who was contacting him.

Jones replied, now confused.

"Sir?" He asked.

Ian leaned over and let his hand hover over the combadge.

"Xavier out!" He said.

He tapped the combadge and rolled out of bed, walking towards the computer in his quarters.

[Hitchhiker]

-DSG, Engineering-

A light remained on in engineering even though, at night shift, only four crewmen were on duty. In Grey's office, the somewhat obsessive chief engineer sat hunched over his desk, scribbling away at blueprints and schematics and technical documentation.

He'd been working on this for a little over three months now, and it was still only a rough plan. Soon though, he hoped it would take shape into something more tangible, and something useful.

He needed more tea.

[La Forge]

DSG, Sickbay

The events of the past few days were shocking. The deaths of several crew members, under Juliana's supervision, bothered her terribly. She couldn't get sleep the last two days. She had stayed up, all night, locked in her office, going over the medical reports from the recent occurences.

Juliana had never had a crew member die under her command.
While she was aboard the U.S.S. Romeo, Romulan rebels had attacked the ship, while she was on a routine mission near Turkana IV. During this time, Juliana was just a lowly nurse. When the Romulans attacked, the Chief Medical Officer, along with the majority of the Medical Staff, were killed. Juliana, taking up the responsibility, tended the many wounded, almost single-handedly. Juliana had been promoted after that, to Chief Medical Officer. But, now...

Besides the deaths and injuries, the Mirror Universe beings frightened Juliana. She had never heard of the "Mirror Universe", but if such dangerous beings lived there...Juliana couldn't even imagine. The baby...The odd "devices"...the cyborg, Jones. Juliana was still sore from the injuries she had sustained from the violent cyborg. What strength...and to think that the one of the Mirror Univers beings was still loose...

Juliana sat behind her oak desk, her office back in order, with the books reshelved and the aquarium re-filled. On her desk, many papers, books, and other files were spread across the desk. A flickering lamp was still on, a fly swarming around the light. Juliana was a mess. Her hair was in disarray and her eyes were dark. She was currently asleep.

After a few moments, Juliana awoke, with a gasp of air. She had awoken from a nightmare...about the cyborg, Jones. She sat behind her desk for a moment, breathing heavily, her hair bouncing. After a couple seconds, Juliana stood up and straightened her jacket/uniform.

"Computer..." Juliana muttered. "The time?" The cool female computer voice replied.

"The current time is 200 hours, StarDate 57156.36" Juliana nodded.

"Thank you, Computer...that is all." The Computer complied and turned off. Juliana, feeling tired, sore, and ill, pushed a hand through her messy dark hair. She cracked her sore neck. It popped with a loud 'CRACK!'.

"Ugh!" Juliana sighed. Her body was in pain. She had been up late the past few days, working endlessly. It seemed that it had taken its toll.

"I need to get some sleep..." Juliana thought to herself. A couple seconds later, Juliana grabbed her bag and a some painkillers and sleeping pills, and headed for her quarters, leaving the dark Sickbay behind her.

DSG, Corridor

As Juliana walked down the dark corridors, she found the hallways very busy for the time of day. Many people bustled about the corridors. It was unusual for so many people being active that late at night.

"What could be going on?" Juliana thought to herself, as she passed by two Ferengi. They were talking, about what Juliana couldn't hear. Their expressions were worried.

Juliana just shrugged and continued on to the Turbolifts and then to her corridors.

DSG, Juliana's Quarters

Once back in her quarters, Juliana took a long, warm bubble bath, to help relax her. After that, she took the painkillers and sleeping pills. She dressed for bed, in her shiny, silver nightgown, and then fell into a troubled sleep. She had been feeling very sick, lately.

[Ziona]

DSG, Ziona's Quarters

Ziona tossed and turned in bed, the sheets wrapping around her body. Sweat beaded her forehead, dampening her dark hair and her street clothes, which she had fallen asleep in.

In her mind, images tossed and turned, reaching out to grab her. Ziona evaded them, her dark eyes darting left and right looking for an exit. She was trapped.

Ahead of her, she saw a man dressed in black walking, his back to her. Ziona called out to him, trying to get his attention but the man kept walking. She tried to follow him, running after him but no matter how fast she ran, he kept getting a head of her.

A hand grasped her ankle and she tripped, falling face first down onto the floor... which was suddenly slick and wet with...

She lifted her hand and saw red coating her hand. She gasped and pulled herself up from the floor only to find a body next to her. The body was face down and she hesitantly rolled it over to find Ian staring up at her, his dark eyes blank and motionless.

Ziona screamed, both in the dream and in real life. She sat straight up and glared into the dark, her chest rising and falling, sweat making her shirt stick to her thin chest. She was blind in the dark and she couldn't see. She swore she heard people around her and she began to panic.

After a moment, the darkness began to fade and she began to see again. Her breathing returned to normal. She got up. She took a shower. Then she headed to the holodeck.

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona stepped into the holodeck to find herself surrounded by a Japanese style dojo. She stopped on the edge and removed her shoes before walking across the mats. The air was still and she moved towards the front of the dojo where a rack of katanas stood.

She paused for a moment in front of the katanas.

"Computer, load program Meditation10."

The room around her suddenly turned into what appeared to be a clear floor suspended in the middle of a clear blue sky. Ziona took a seat on the clear floor and sat, simply staring into the sky for a moment before shutting her eyes and falling into a trance-like state.

[Lord Borg]

~DSG, Holodeck~

Clarence appared before Ziona, he was soundless and motionless. Her eyes were closed, in a meditative state. Despite being holographic he could "feel" a vibe off of her. She was trouble.

"What troubles you my friend?"

[Ziona]

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona opened her eyes, slightly startled, to see a man sitting opposite her. She blinked a few times.

"I hardly know you." She looked at him skeptically. "Why would I tell you when I just met you?"

[La Forge]

DSG, Juliana's Quarters

Juliana tossed and turned in bed, the covers twisted and wrapped around her body. The room was dark, only the sound of her screaming in her sleep could be heard. Sweat dripped down her head, sparkling gems rolling down her forehead. Her little nightgown was soaking wet, the thin cloth stuck to her body. Juliana's hair was a mess, the dark brown hair messy and out of place. Her chest was heaving up and down, her heart racing. She was having another nightmare, this time, about the Borg.

In her dream, Juliana had been taken captive on a Borg Cube. While on board, a mysterious Borg woman tied her to some sort of table. Juliana couldn't get a good picture of the Borg woman, but, from what she could see, something definately seemed...odd about the Borg.

Once strapped to the table, the Borg woman started to drill into her neck...her eyes. There was a burning sensation. Her mind was racing, her eyes darting all over the place. Cybernetic devices were being installed into her neck and body. She was being turned into a Borg! She was being assimilated! Juliana was screaming and writhing in the dream, but the electronic binds kept her from escaping. The Borg woman pulled out her eye and replaced it with some sort of electronic device...what horrible pain! Just as the electronic device...the eye-piece, was over her left eye, Juliana awoke.

Juliana bolted upright, her eye's in tears. Juliana sat for a moment, gasping for air, taking deep breaths. After relaxing for a moment, Juliana pushed her hair back to get a better view of her surroundings...

It was only her room...no Borg...nothing...Juliana sighed, burying her face in her shaking hands.

"What a peculiar dream..." Juliana thought. "Why? Why am I dreaming about the Borg? I have never seen, so much as been in contact, with a Borg before! What is going on?!?" While she was thinking, Juliana wiped her running nose with the back of her hand. She felt that her hand was wet.

Juliana looked down at her hand. The back of her left hand was covered in dark red blood. The blood glistened in the dim light of her quarters. Juliana, her hand shaking, slowly put her hand to her nose. She felt a liquid. She pulled her hand away, bringing it up to her face. Blood trickled down the tip of her finger. Juliana had a bloody nose.

Worried, Juliana jumped out of bed, and ran across the carpeted room to the bathroom, barefoot, her naked feet hardly making a sound.

Once in the bathroom, Juliana checked her nose in the mirror. Blood trickled out of her right nostril. Her nose was smeared with blood. She did have a bloody nose, all right. Juliana quickly took a piece of toilet paper, and gently wiped the blood away. While she was doing so, she suddenly felt sick.

Juliana dropped the toilet paper in the sink and headed for the toilet bowl. She lifted the lid up and threw up into it. Juliana threw up her lunch, a ham sandwich and some strawberries, into the bowl. The brown liquid floated at the top of the water. The smell of the vomit was unbearable. Juliana, after taking a gasp of breath, vomited, again, into the toilet. The smell was horrible. Flies began to fly around the toilet seat.

Feeling exhausted, Juliana leaned back, her short nightgown ruffled at the thigh, with a little vomit on the edge. Juliana couldn't control it. She felt terrible. A moment later, Juliana stuck her head back into the toilet bowl, and vomited, again.

It was going to be a long night...

[Lord Borg]

Clarence made a slight shrug on his face. "You don't have to tell me, I just thought it would help."

Clarence looked around and nodded approvingly. "Not many choose this part of the simulation."

Clarence sat and waited for her to speak next.

[Ziona]

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona moved back into her meditation pose again. She remained silent a moment but Clarence sitting next to her was starting to get on her nerves. She opened one eye and then the other eye.

"You're not going to leave are you?"

[Lord Borg]

Clarence shook his head. "No"

He studied her for a moment. "Where did you learn the technique you use?"

Clarence was still in meditive pose, his body almost frozen in place.

[Ziona]

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona remained silent a moment.

"From my trainer back at the academy."

She watched Clarence silently for a moment.

"You really want to know what's bothering me, don't you?"

[Lord Borg]

Clarence nodded at the response at the academy. "It's difficult for some to master."

He stayed silent for a moment. "If you want to speak, then speak of your troubles. I can council, lead meditation, train, anything of the sorts. What does your soul tell you to do?"

[Ziona]

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona listened to her mind for a moment.

"I'm worried about... something I want but I don't think I can have." She finally spoke.

[Lord Borg]

Clarence nodded in what looked like, understanding. "What tells you you want it, what tells you you can't have it? Your heart?"

Clarence shifted slightly. "Perhaps, you need to explore why you want what it is you want, and why you think you can't have it."

[Ziona]

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona remains silent a moment.

"Well..." she hesitates. "My heart says I want it but my brain tells me I can't. It's so complicated." She sighed in frustration.

[Lord Borg]

Clarence nodded again, as if he truly understood her words. Perhaps he did. "What is it, that speaks the strongest? your heart, or your brain?"

Clarnce took a deep holographic breath. "Perhaps, you should explore what your brain says. Find out why it says you can't. Is it uniform? Age? Only you can decide."

[Ziona]

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona shifted uncomfortably. She stood quickly and glanced up into the blue sky.

"Computer, load program Garden210."

Ziona's clothing changed from her street jeans and white shirt to a black and gold kimono. She crossed a path of small, round pebbles to a small and low wood and iron bench. She sat down and shut her eyes, listening to the fountains trickling in the distance. A sigh escaped her lips.

"My heart always wins but..." She hesitated. "It's too ackward. I don't think he wants what I want."

[Lord Borg]

Clarences clothing changed with the scenery also, he no longer was in white, but in a green martial arts pants, with a similar jacket in a lighter color.

"Ah, I see."

Clarence stood and motioned for her to follow him along a stone path.

"It is not easy, deciding what one's heart want's. Interestingly enough, he may be in the same perditicment..."

[Ziona]

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona got up and followed Clarence down the pathway, her hands clasped in front of her, her dark eyes down on the path.

"I.. I don't think he's having the same problem. He just... I don't know, Clarence. He confuses me."

[La Forge]

DSG, Juliana's Quarters

Juliana couldn't stand the pain...the sickness. She had been sitting beside the toilet for what seemed like hours. She didn't know that she could possibly vomit that much. It looked as if she had vomited her entire body. The smell was unbearable. Flies swarmed the toilet. Juliana's lips were lined with the dirty liquid. Many splotches of vomit stained her once-shiny nightgown. Her chest is heaving, and sweat is pouring down her forehead, like a river. Juliana's hands and arms are shaking, and she feels terribly cold.

Not knowing what to do, Juliana sprang up and ran out of the room. In the dim bedroom, Juliana stood for a moment, her legs shaking and her eyes twitching. Juliana felt horrible. She couldn't control her body. Juliana tried to take a step forward, but she fell to the ground. The leg that she had broken, a few days earlier, had given out on her.

Juliana lay in the middle of the room, on the red carpet. Juliana rolled over, onto her back. Taking several deep breaths, Juliana remains motionless, trying to relax. After a few seconds, Juliana, slowly, lifts her head. A minute later, she manages to pull herself back up.

Wobbling, Juliana hobbles towards the entrance. She hit the button to open the "locked" door, and staggered out into the hallway.

DSG, Corridor

Juliana, still in her dirty nightgown, walked through the corridors, making her way to Sickbay. Many people in the hallways looked at her differently. There was good reason to. Juliana looked like a zombie, as her face was pale and her lips covered in blood and vomit.

A young man from Engineering, stopped her outside the Turbolift.

"Are you okay, Doctor?" the boy asked. Juliana slowly nodded.

"Do...do...don't worry..." Juliana gasped. "I...I am fine...I just...need..." Juliana almost fell over, but the boy grabbed her, saving her from the fall. The boy looked worried.

"You look bad, Doctor. Real bad..." the boy put an arm around Juliana's neck. "I'm taking you to Sickbay, okay? Let's see what the EMH has to say, eh?"

Juliana slowly nodded. The boy nodded in reply. The two limped down the hallway, Juliana resting her head on the boy's shoulder.

The two eventually made it to Sickbay, about ten minutes later.

DSG, Sickbay

With the boy's help, Juliana entered Sickbay. It was empty, except for the EMH, who was going over some medical files from the previous day.

"Ah! Doctor! You are back..." the EMH hesitated. "Are you okay?" The boy shook his head.

"She is sick, Doctor." the boy said, urgently. "I don't know what's wrong. Can you check her?" The EMH approached the two.

"I'll try..." the EMH said, examining Juliana. "Help me bring her over to that table..."

[Lord Borg]

Clarence nodded again.

"Love is confuising."

Clarence looked at Ziona.

"Perhaps he is, perhaps he is not. What you need to ask your self is, what could his problem then be?"

Clarence turned and continued.

"The events of the last few months have been trying on people. Particularly my friend, Ian. Do you know him?"

Clarence shook his head.

"Sorry, we are talking of you, I grew concerned when I got lost in thought."

[Ziona]

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona stopped walking at the mention of Ian and walked off the path to a nearby bench and sank down onto it, her hands still clasped in her lap. She remained silent a few moments.

"Yes... I know Ian." She spoke, her voice hardly above a whisper. "And yes... love is confusing. I... I don't even know if this IS love."

[Founder]

-DSG, Ian's Quarters-

Ian sat in front of the small computer and ran his fingers through his hair, sliding it back and out of his face. He was in the tight undershirt of his uniform, but didn't bother to dress formaly. Apparently this was some kind of emergency. He wished it had been another messenger. The captain had not gotten along with this admiral since they first met. Ian tapped on a button and the face of Admiral Smith appeared, the angry face.



Ian bowed his head.

"Admiral." He greeted.

Smith folded his arms and rolled his eyes.

"Took long enough," He said, "I could have gone to Delta quadrant and back faster than you answered."

Ian fought to contain his anger and said nothing.

"This is important Xavier, so listen up," He said, "Near the Romulan neutral zone, there is a Federation starbase called Starbase 445. It is used for repairing and building starships mainly."

The captain nodded his head, still not understanding.

"They sent a distress signal an hour ago," He said, "Nautolian forces have finally began their push into Federation space. They dropped out of warp and immediatly began to attack the station. Suffice it to say, it was a massacre..."

Ian closed his eyes in internal pain and clenched his fist tightly. Damn that Fito.

"Some ships managed to beam the survivors off," He said, "And they fled to a Federation base a few lightyears away. Its the planet Akiama. Its more of a place where Federation items are manufactured. They don't have much defense. They were not built to fight. The starships are desperate and beaming the survivors down there, while trying to hold off the Nautolian fleet. We need an immediate rescue mission. Nearly two hundred people are dead and another hundred severaly wounded. We need the Hippocratic Oath to get over there and assist."

Xavier nodded his head.

"The USS Guardian can accompany them to protect the ship," He said, "They'll need it..."

Smith chuckled and nodded.

"Yes indeed," He said, "Hurry. They're running out of time. Smith out."

Ian rushed to his combade to contact Archer and tell him to prepare to leave. Suddenly, he felt like someone slammed into his head with a sledge hammer.

"Xavier of the stay in the sky." A familiar voice said.

Ian dropped to his knees and clutched the sides of his head. It was the Titan...

"The preparations have been made," It said in a booming voice, "Fito's death is immenant."

He gritted his teeth in pain. It was so loud. It was time? Did he have to pick such a bad time?

"I can't," Ian said, "My first duty is to Starfleet. I can't be there..."

The voice replied quickly.

"You are not needed," It said, "We shall lure Fito here and destroy him. Then you will leave."

Ian fell over to the ground, shaking.

"Yes..." He said through gritted teeth, barely audible to no one.

The Titan replied for the last time.

"It is done." It said simply.

Ian felt the being pull away from his mind. He reached towards the table and slammed on the combadge.

"Medical emergency," He muttered, "Captain's quarters..."

Ian's vision blurred and then finally became black...

[Lord Borg]

Clarence nodded.

"It sounds like it is to me. sure, it may not be the love where one shares a family, but it is love never the less."

Clarence sat next to Ziona and looked at her. It was time to be blunt.

"Have you talked to Ian about your feelings about him?"

[Ziona]

DSG, Holodeck

Ziona remained silent a moment, watching the ground intently with her dark eyes. She continued to remain in silence, holding her breath for a few moments.

"No. I... I haven't found the time or..." She trailed off. "... or the courage."